Drawer seat



Jan. 19, 1954 w. R. DEAN 2,666,473

DRAWER SEAT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 17, 1951 Fig. I

VIIIIIIIIA'I. VIIIIIII William R. Dean INVENTOR.

W. R. DEAN Jan. 19, 1954 DRAWER SEAT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 1'7, 1951 7 William R. Dean INVENTOR.

9 By WM...

Patented Jan. 19, 1954 UNITE-D STATES PATENT OFFICE DRAWER SEAT Wiliiam R. Dean, Torrington, Wyo.

Application Decfilfil 17, 1951, Serial N 0. 262,121

4 Claims. 1 o

This invention comprises novel and useful intprovements in a drawer seat and more specifi'c'ally pertains to a combination table and infants chair whereby a drawer or tray of the table maybe opened to form a seat or high chair for an infant.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a combination table and infants chair which will provide a high chair or seat for an infant andwhich may be incorporated into a table for conserving space in apartments and the like. I

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved combination table and infants chair in which the weight of the infant shall be effectively counterbalanced when the chair is in use for its intended purpose.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an article as set forth in preceding objects in which an improved and advantageous ar rangement is provided for affording a folding back rest and a folding foot rest for an infant which may be opened 'or extended for use and may be readily collapsed into the tray or drawer when not in use.

' A still further important obi-eat of the invent-ion is to provide an article in. conformity with the above-mentioned objects in which positivewardv movement of the tray to prevent the possibility of an infant and the tray falling from its support upon the table.

These, together with various ancillary fe'atures and-objects of the invention, which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one-embodiment of a table and infant's chair in ac= cordance with the principles of this invention, the same being shown in the stored or closed position of the same; m

Figure 2 is a perspective View showing the table with its dropleaves raised for use as a table, and the drawer or tray moved to its open position for supporting an infant;

Figure 3 isa vertical longitudinal. sectional view through the-apparatus; taken substantially upon the: plane. indicated. by the section. line.

2 of Figure 1 and showing the manner in which the back rest and the foot rest are folded into the tray in the stored position of the latter;

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4& of Figure 2 and illustrating the position of the back rest and foot rest when the tray is in its open position ready for use; v

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5=5 of Figure 4, a part of the backof the tray being broken away to show certain other parts of the invention;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail view taken in vertical section and showing upon a somewhat enlarged scale a portion of Figure 4 and illustrating particularly the manner in which the seat cushion is positioned in the bottom of the tray; andi Figure 7 is a horizontal detail view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 1-4 of Figure 2 and illustrating cer-' tain details of the resilient fastening bolt in accordance with this invention.

Referring now more specifically to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views,- it will be seen that the combination article of furniture in accordance with this invention comprises a table indicated generally by the numeral l0 and which can be of any desired type and serves all the customary functions of a table. As illustrated however, this table is provided with drop leaves I2 and with a top M. Secured to the upper portions of the legs it of the table and below the top 14 are side panel members l8,- a front panel member 20 and a rear panel member 22.

In accordance with this invention, the front panel member 20 is provided with an opening and a drawer or tray indicated generally by the numeral 22 is slidably received in this opening, this tray having afront wall 24 provided with a handle 26,- side walls 28, a rear wall 3!! and a bottom wall 3'2.

Upon the front portion of the" bottom wall 32 there is provided a seat in the form of a cushion or pad comprising a body of cushioning material 34 provided with a covering 36 having its ends as at 38 inturned under the cushioning material 34 and secured to the bottom wall 32 in any desired manner. The seat member is adapted to constitute a cushion or seat for the infant when tray is its opened. position.

A back rest comprising a pair of arms and one or more transversely disposed slats 42 or other back supporting members is provided, the lower ends of these arms being pivotally secured as by pivot pins id to the inside surfaces of the tray sides 28 and adjacent the front wall 24 thereof. The arrangement is such that the back rest may be pivoted forwardly and downwardly into its folded or collapsed position as shown in Figure 3, whereby the back rest will be fully housed and concealed within the tray, or may be pivoted upwardly and backwardly to cause the arms to rest against the top part of the front wall 24": whereby the back rest will be in operative position for supporting the back of an infant as sug ested in Figure 2.

At its intermediate portion, and inwardly of the seat, the tray is provided with a transversely disposed opening it which is adapted to receive or permit passage of the feet of the infant therethrough in order to enable the infant to be seated comfortably in the tray.

It may be here noted that the marginal portions of the bottom wail 32 of the tray may be slidably received upon longitudinally extending supporting rails see Figure 5, in the customary manner for trays and drawers, and a transversely disposed support bar 58 is provided extending between these rails at substantially midway of the tray. The position and function of this bar will be set forth more fully hereinafter.

A pivoting foot rest is secured to the tray, the same consisting of a pair of support arms 52 which at their upper ends are pivotally secured as by pivot pins 5 to the inner surfaces of the side walls of the tray slightly rearwardly of the slot 4% in the bottom wall thereof, the bottom ends of these support arms having a foot bar 56 disposed therebetween.

The dimensions of the support arms 52 and of the opening 46 as well as the position of the pivot pins 56 are such that the foot rest may be verti cally pivoted through the opening 46, whereby the rest may be raised into its inoperative position within the tray as shown in Figure 3, or may be lowered through the opening into the operative position as shown in Figure 4. In its lowered position, it will be apparent that the edge 58 cf the opening constitutes a stop or support for the support arms which thus limit the downward movement of the foot rest and position the foot bar 56 in a convenient position for engage ment by and for support of the feet of an infant.

It should be further noted that the position of the support bar 50 is such that when the tray pushed inward from the position shown in Fig ure 4 to that shown in Figure 3, the rearward movement of the tray will cause the support arms 52 to engage against the bar 5%, whereby the latter will lift the arms upwardly through the opening 46 until the tray is fully ciosed. In this position. the foot rest 5%; of the tray will rest upon the support bar 513 as shown in Figure 3. When the tray is opened however, the weight of the foot rest will cause the same to drop through the opening 46 as soon as the foot bar 56 slides off of the support bar 5%.

In order toprevent the tray being pulled completely out of the opening in the table, and es pecially preventing the possibility of the tray being dislodged and dropping with the infant therein, a positive means is provided for preventing such movement, the same consisting of a chain 68 having a hook 62 engageable with an eye 64 carried by the rear wall 30 of the tray, the

other end of the chain being secured to a fastener 66. The fastener 66 may be supported at any convenient place upon the structure of the table. However, it is preferred to mount the same, as shown in Figure 5, upon a counterbalance 53 which may conveniently comprise a metallic plate of sufficient weight and which is bolted, screwed or otherwise attached to the back panel 22 of the table. This counterweight serves to compensate for the weight of the extended tray with the infant placed therein and thus prevent the possibility of the table overturning when in use.

In order to retain the tray in its closed position, a spring bolt fastener is employed of the construction shown in Figure 7. For this purpose, a mounting plate 18 is secured as by screws 52 to the side of the panel member l8, and the lockin pin or bolt M, provided with a head or finger grip portion 16, is slidably retained upon this bracket and is provided with a compression spring is which is adapted to urge the bolt inwardly of the panel 18. The side wall 23 of the tray is vided with a socket which in a closed position of the tray is adapted to register with and to receive the end of the spring urged bolt whereby the tray will be securely retained within the table to prevent opening of the same. It will also be apparent that a number of sockets could be provided along the side 28 whereby the tray could be adjustably locked in various opening positions, as for example, to conveniently position the infant with respect to the edge of the table.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that there has been provided an auxiliary infants chair which enables an infant to be seated at a table, and yet which when not in use may be recessed into the table and will thus require further space than the table itself. In addition, the infant is much more securely and safely seated and in less danger of falling than in the usual infants high chair.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the forego specification and accompanying drawings, it Y not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, but all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the claimed as new is:

1. A combination table and infants chair comprising a table having a top, a tray mounted in said table for sliding movement beneath top, said tray comprising front, bottom, back and side walls, a back rest and a seat in said tray, said tray having an opening in said bottom wall for receiving an infants feet, a foot est mounted on said tray, said foot rest including a pair of supports and a foot barsecured therebetween, said supports being pivoted to the inner surfaces of the tray side walls for pivotal movement of the foot-bar through said opening.

2. A combination table and infants chair comprising a table having a top, a tray mounted in said table for sliding movement beneath said top, said tray comprising front, bottom, back and side walls, a back rest and a seat in said tray, said tray having an opening in said bottom wall for receiving an infants feet, a foot rest mounted on said tray, said foot rest including a pair of supinvention, what is ports and a foot bar secured therebetween, said supports being pivoted to the inner surfaces of the tray side walls for pivotal movement of the foot bar through said opening, a transverse support bar on said table extending beneath said tray, said support bar being positioned to engage said foot rest and raise the same through said opening, upon closing movement of said tray.

3. A combination table and infants chair comprising a table having a top, a tray mounted in said table for sliding movement beneath said top, said tray comprising front, bottom, back and side walls, a back rest and a seat in said tray, said tray having an opening in said bottom wall for receiving an infants feet, a foot rest mounted on said tray, said foot rest including a pair of supports and a foot bar secured therebetween, said supports being pivoted to the inner surfaces of the tray side walls for pivotal movement of the foot bar through said opening, said foot rest being so positioned that the edge of said opening constitutes a stop limiting downward pivoting movement of said supports.

4. A combination table and infants chair comprising a table having a top, a tray mounted in said table for sliding movement beneath said top, said tray comprising front, bottom, back and side walls, a back rest and a seat in said tray, said tray having an opening on said bottom Wall for receiving an infants feet, a foot rest on said tray, said table having a counterweight secured thereto to balance the weight of the extended tray and an infant seated therein, said counterweight being mounted in opposing relation to the back wall of said tray, a chain detachably secured to said tray and to said counterweight for limiting outward movement of said tray.

WILLIAM R. DEAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

